Former Test hooker Brendan Cannon believes Quade Cooper, for so long Australian rugby’s maverick, is the “safe option” to pilot the Wallabies on Saturday night.
Cooper is expected to be one of a few subtle changes to Australia’s starting side to play South Africa at Suncorp Stadium when it’s announced on Wednesday.
New coach Ewen McKenzie surprised everyone by overlooking his long-time Queensland Reds playmaker in favour of Matt Toomua for the opening two Rugby Championship losses to New Zealand.
Toomua improved on his nervous Sydney debut in Bledisloe II but Cooper boasts a fantastic record against South African rivals and has a superb long pass which can better find dangermen Israel Folau and James O’Connor out wide.
McKenzie also needs his five-eighth to take more control of the game and Cannon believes the mercurial Cooper has the confidence and runs on the board against the Springboks.
“With Cooper the Wallabies certainly have a greater stiffness in attack and a greater variety about it,” the former 42-Test rake told Fox Sports.
“Matt Toomua has done very, very well but as Ewen has shown with the Reds in previous seasons, he picks the side depending on the opposition.
“I think Quade Cooper, against the Boks, is a good, safe option.”
McKenzie has kept his selection cards close to his chest but two or three changes appear likely to the run-on 15 which started well in Wellington before losing 27-16 to the All Blacks.
The biggest question mark is at fullback where Jesse Mogg has struggled to take his opportunities.
There’s been widespread calls for Folau to be moved into the position where he’s shone for the NSW Waratahs but concerns remain he could be exposed at No.15 at Test level.
Utility O’Connor is another option at fullback and was tightlipped when asked about another possible switch from wing.
McKenzie prefers to position Cooper at fullback in defence so that may also see Folau stay on the right wing.
Only minor tweaking is expected to the pack as well with McKenzie backing his incumbent forwards as the best available.
Tighthead prop Ben Alexander endured a tough night against the All Blacks in Wellington but replacement Sekope Kepu also struggled as Australia’s bench failed to make an impact.
James Slipper, a stand-out at loosehead, plays tighthead for the Reds but is more likely to stay in the No.1 jersey for the torrid battle with the big Boks pack.
Ball-scavenger Liam Gill is also in the mix as the Boks have made the breakdown a bigger focus than normal.
Possible Wallabies starting team: James O’Connor, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper.
MMC2
Guest
Well said Hugh Briss. It has become patently clear to me that many commentators, including former top level players have no idea on certain aspects of the game. My opinion all along was that having Quade Cooper in a football team would inevitably destroy the backline. That is precisely what happened. The kid with flair who can jink and do things on the run that even he hasn't planned deprives a structured backline which always loses shape as a result. Recently a commentator remarked that Adam Ashley Cooper had actually done things that game in contrast to previous games. That is because for s change the outside backs received a bit of ball. For so long we have had talented backs who rarely see any ball. When this becomes entrenched, at any level of football, , the line loses shape and the outside backs start to creep in. . Attack is lost and what happens in defence is exactly what has been happening for a long time. Look back over how many games have been lost by the other team sending it wide and scoring on unattended wings. It has been happening over and over and over. Solution: Finish with Quade Cooper, finish with Will Genia. Genia has skills no doubt but kicks too much and has kicks charged down regularly. Get a properly shaped deep (in attack) backline and send it wide regularly, with kicks and inside runners being the EXCEPTION. Man the wings and with the talent we have see the Wallabies' fortunes turn around.
thabo moyo
Guest
Quade's relative success against sa teams probably lies in the fact that he takes the ball so close to the tackle line and Meyer has an enduring love for the press and drift, so any defenders who get displaced are more readily punished. The issue is to keep those big forwards backtracking and they will give you opportunities at posts. It is in their gene code to contest the setpiece and noises from their camp suggest that this is an area of wallaby play from the bledisloe series that Meyer respects.
Hugh Briss
Guest
"play it safe" with Quade?!? Cannon needs to get an MRI done on his head, because clearly he's had one too many concussions. Unless he means long passes to no-one in particular (and more particularly long cut passes when he has an overlap or three), needless flick passes, and pointless kicks in general play. I'm not even gonna touch on defensive lapses...